Japanese at Work is part of the “Asians at Work” series written by John Spiri. Inspired by Studs Terkel’s oral history Working: People Talk about What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do Spiri traveled all over Asia interviewing people about their typical day of work. This volume on Japan, one of five books covering Asian countries, includes interviews with 53 individuals who work in fields as diverse as Japanese traditional crafts (a hariko papermache maker, a Japanese sweets chef, a soy sauce maker, an antiques store owner), music (a violinist, a Jazz club owner) public service (a labor union representative, social worker, an environmental specialist), jobs that employ the homeless (a cardboard deliverer, a magazine vendor, a car counter) and many, many more. The following excerpt is an interview with Kimono Teacher Ms. Matsuoka Fukiko.
John Spiri: Why did you decide to teach kimono?
Matsuoka-sensei: It comes from my interest in sado (Japanese tea ceremony). The kimono is necessary for it. I was always fond of my mother’s kimono and hated to see it just hanging in the closet. It was from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and was made of silk. It’s the same for many of my friends—they know of beautiful old kimono just gathering dust. I feel that the kimono has both cultural and historical significance. Young women now are losing that cultural identity. I want to help preserve it.
Could you tell me about your training?
I studied for 13 years at a dress school in Kumamoto. I got my license after five years. I’ve been studying sado for eight years now. Some day I want to teach it.
What is teaching kimono all about?
Western clothes, you see, are made to fit the chest, hips and rear, whereas kimono are meant to hide all body shapes. Towels are stuffed underneath, for example, to present a flat shape. During class, I first show women how to put on the undergarments. They are tied with a belt. That takes five minutes. For the kimono to fit properly, many adjustments are necessary—a pull here and a tug there. We practice putting one on several times during the one hour class. There are detailed rules for what type of kimono to wear, according to the woman’s age and a number of other factors. There are formal and informal kimono. Also, kimono styles have subtle differences in each region of the country. I explain how to bow, stand, and sit when wearing kimono. Finally, I give explanations about the materials and dyes used in making a kimono, as well as a little about its history.
Can you summarize its history?
Records show that kimono were worn as far back as the Jomon period (before 300 CE), but they looked quite different back then. I suppose they were more similar to traditional Chinese clothing on which they’re based. Styles changed based on the availability of certain materials and the improvements in techniques. The modern form of kimono started in the Edo Period (1603-1867) and has remained essentially unchanged ever since.
How much do lessons cost?
For beginner-level classes, which meet once a week for six months, the fee is 20,000 yen. At this level, a student learns how to dress herself. The fees rise at the intermediate level (learning to dress others) and advanced level (earning a license).
What about the future?
I’m interested in sado, too. It’s so deep. I’m studying The Book of Tea now. This is a book written by Okakura Kazuko in 1906. It was actually originally written for a Western audience, in English. Its roots are closely associated with Japanese Zen. It is a classic which lays down the guiding principles of tea ceremony. We learn to give up living a luxurious or complicated life. Living a simple life is best. Sado is about learning to concentrate and calm the mind. It takes a long time to improve concentration. People today are too busy. I don’t want future generations to forget these important aspects of Japanese culture.
Japanese at Work can be ordered from Amazon US or, in Japan, directly from the author, John Spiri globalstoriespress (at) gmail (dot) com